BANG Goes the Borders festival deemed huge success

It was the 12th Bang Goes the Borders, held at St Mary’s School campus.

Last year’s event was postponed due to the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the back-up date ended up coinciding with King Charles’ coronation.

It was held virtually in 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The festival, which brings science to life for young people, was free to attend and families started arriving from 10am.

Head teacher Liam Harvie said: “It was fabulous to welcome so many visitors to Abbey Park, the St. Mary’s School campus, for our eleventh [physical] Bang Goes the Borders science festival.

“Science enthusiasts young and old sampled a wide range of activities, workshops and displays; from investigating mammoth haemoglobin to virtual reality experiences, enjoying Zoolab’s critters and crawlers to delivering lambs from a model ewe. Twenty-five presenters from science centres, universities, senior schools, science-based occupations and visitors centres welcomed upwards of a thousand people to their workshops.

“The day was a huge success and St. Mary’s looks forward to building on this year’s remarkable festival by expanding and enhancing the offering in September 2024."

Visitors learned how to sew at the Great Tapestry of Scotland workshop and about bodyworks from Glasgow Science Centre.

Other subjects of interest included beekeeping by Bright Green Nature, water safety by the RNLI, STEM and nature by the Tweed Forum and veterinary life by Galedin.

Oundle School hosted a session on virtual reality, while St Mary's School, St George's, Loretto School, Stamp, Trimontium, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the Hirsel Estate, Green Tweed Eco, Plexus, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Glenalmond College, Bootham School and Fettes College also hosted sessions.

And one which was immensely popular among the younger visitors was crazy golf and drag racing by Bricks McGee.